Ludwig Drums – Who hasn’t heard of Ludwig Drums? This household name is still alive and kicking. Terrific drumsets and marching drums. Big resale value in vintage Ludwig drumsets.

LP (Latin Percussion) – LP set the standard for Latin percussion instruments. Known for high quality and full line of Latin drums, percussion and accessories.

Taye Drums – A newer drum company known for quality and affordability.

Slingerland Drums – Another legendary drum company. Famous artist endorsements through the years have made vintage Slingerland drums very valuable.

Remo Drums – Originally a drumhead manufacturer, Remo came out with a “pressed paper” manufacturing process for drum that took everyone by surprise. Although they make drumsets, their kid’s percussion line has really taken first chair.

GMS Drums – High quality drums with lots of projection.

Ayotte Drums – High quality drumsets popular with those that are extremely particular about their drum sound. This drum brand also popularized wooden hoops.

Pacific Drums – A division of DW drums. Not as high quality or customizable as DW but more affordable.

Mapex Drums – An alternative to the others, Mapex drums offer an affordable choice without sacrificing quality and practicality.

Fibes Drums – Largely American made! A company spanning 30 years with an emphasis on attack and dynamic projection.

Premier Drums – Originating in London, England, Premier drums have become known for their drumsets and marching percussion.

Orange County Drums (OCD) – More recently getting noticed due to unique and colorful designs and popular artist endorsement.

Brady Drums – This Australian company specializes in handcrafted made from Western Australian hardwoods such as Jarrah and Wandoo. Their claim to fame was the solid, one piece drum carved directly from the same tree.

Noble and Cooley – Originally known for their masterfully engineered snare drums. Customized designs with maple shells. Very respected company in the industry.

Rogers Drums – Another legendary drum company. More popular in the 70’s, these drums have all but disappeared from the scene.

Arbiter – Developed by pioneer Ivor Arbiter, these innovative drums (Arbiter AT’s and Arbiter Flats) are tuned using one lug instead of 10. Apparently they still carry a surprising amount of tone and resonance (less so in the flats).

Monolith Drums – Another fine drum manufacturer based out of Canada that specializes in carbon fiber composite drums.

Traps Drums – The newest maker of shell-less drumkits. Traps drums have a newer, unique design that allows the drums to resonate better and have a deeper tone. Traps also makes electronic drums.

Smaller drum companies often get a bum wrap because they don’t always get seen like the major ones. We’ve linked to others like Maryland Drums, Spaun, Zildjian, Allegro, Craviotto, Dunnett, C&C, Kent, Camco, RMV, and Dixon over at DrumLinks.com.

*If you know other drum companies or drum manufacturers that should be considered for this list, please let us know.

“Reaction was mixed… I’ve always been a little too jazz for rock and a little too rock for jazz, and that’s kind of the area I like. If you’re always asking ‘what is it?’…I’m very happy.” – Bill Bruford